Many journalists should apologize to the players. I’m not suggesting you drop your trousers, but it would be honest and great so we all get along better … It isn’t easy going from being nobodies back home to winning three matches at a World Cup. At the training camp, we had to swallow what you all said about us being a disaster—the worst Argentine team you’d ever seen. All of a sudden we’re an excellent team … the most handsome people in the ‘barrio!”

First of all, I’m not suggesting Maradona drops his trousers either. Second, the one-and-done system of the knock out stage is a volatile format for competition, and Maradona may be eating his words come Sunday when Argentina faces Mexico in Johannesburg. Self destruction is a pain like that. So yes, Maradona, you have a point and nice work in group play, but just because your critics are now your supporters does not mean that they don’t expect a bit more than you have offered so far.